Painter{40 s caddy

ABSTRACT

A painter&#39;&#39;s utensil combining a paint reservoir, a side flanged upslanting roller-ramp having a roller-retaining notch, an upper edge canted as a roller stop and a lower edge faired into the reservoir bottom; a dual brush-position clip for brushes forward in the reservoir, a ready-tray for putty and a tool storage compartment behind the ramp; and co-acting pivotal bails having interlocking looped ends for stability, with ladder hangers adapted to engage the loops.

United States Patent Leffert et al.

[451 Sept. 24, 1974 PAINTERS CADDY Inventors: Willis M. Leifert; S. Douglas Leffert,

both of Monroe Manor, Apt. No. 10. Monroe St.. Westminster. Md. 21157 Filed: Sept. 22, 1972 Appl. No.: 291,338

US. Cl l5/257.06, 220/1 R, 248/210, 206/ 15.1 A Int. Cl B44d 3/12 Field of Search 15/257.06, 257.05, 104.92; 248/211, 210, 212; 206/151 R, 15.1 A, 15.1 B,15.1C,15.1D,15.1E,15.1F, 72;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1953 Howell l5/257.06

3,358,877 12/1967 Eckhoff 220/95 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 234,635 7/1961 Australia l5/257.06

1,300,870 7/1962 France 248/210 Primary Examiner-Leon G. Machlin Attorney, Agent, or Firm.lohn F. McClellan, Sr.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A painters utensil combining a paint reservoir, a side flanged upslanting roller-ramp having a rollerretaining notch, an upper edge canted as a roller stop and a lower edge faired into the reservoir bottom; a dual brush-position clip for brushes forward in the reservoir, a ready-tray for putty and a tool storage compartment behind the ramp; and co-acting pivotal bails having interlocking looped ends for stability, with ladder hangers adapted to engage the loops.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAINTERS CADDY This invention relates generally to painting apparatus and specifically to paint-roller trays.

In the prior art, various types oftrays have been disclosed. Most of these have had sumps with associated roller-inclines for smoothing and reducing the charge of paint on the roller. Some of the prior-art devices have provided for brush or roller attachment to tthe tray, and some have provided handles or straps for holding or carrying the tray.

Generally, the prior art devices fall into two types, the first type is the common two-levelihor'izontally extended tray, suited only for semi-stationaryusebecause of shallowness and instability. Thesecondty'pe is substantially deeper and more extended vertically, inthe manner of a tub with sloping flat walls, and although more portable, is less suited=for'amateur'or'home type use.

Neithertype isparticularly versatile in-provision of support, tool storage, or convenience.

A primary object of the ,presentinventionis to provide a painters caddy which affords .thebest advantages of priortypes without thedrawbacks, in particular being well-suited for both professional and home use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a painters caddy which affords five-types of storage for-implements and materials used in painting, includingon-thejob drip, and wet, brush and roller storageydry-storage for extra brushes and supplies; and ready storage for putty masses and the like.

A further important object ofthe invention is to :provide a superior paint sump and integral roller-ramp structure which preventsoverturn and over-run spillage and splashing through provision of novel advantageous base, sidewall, and .end flange structure.

Still a further and very important object of the invention is to provide a uniquely stable bail andhanger system which adapts to any mode .of support during use, including flat surface support, hand carrying, ladderrung hanging, and ladder side-rail hanging.

In typical embodiment the invention .comprises an open top substantially rectangularcontainer, a diagonally upwardly disposed roller-ramp dividing the -container into a fluid-tight paint reservoir forward of the ramp and a storage bin under the overhang of the roller-ramp behind, an interlocking bail system, and a-.dual service brush clip.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent on examination of the following description, including the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front quarter perspective view of the invention, looking slightly downward;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the invention looking slightly downward;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are fragmentary details in perspective, looking forward and downward; and

FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views showing the invention in use with ladders.

In the Figures, which will-now be described in detail, like numerals indicate like parts.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the painters caddy l0 of this invention empty, in front-quarter perspective in FIG. 1 and in near-vertical perspective in FIG. .2.

FIG. 1 shows front bail l2 and rear bail l4 folded down, as when the invention is beingsupported on a flat surface. and also shows roller-ramp 16 for a roller R and FIG. 2 shows the bails 12, 14 interlocked in the carrying position, and details of a storage bin 30 in the rear.

The Painters Caddy comprises a generally rectangular structure of metal or thermoplastic, having a flat bottom 18, vertical sides 20 and 22, an outward slanting front wall 24, and a substantially vertical rear wall 26.

Dividing the caddy into forward paint reservoir section 28 and rear storage section or bin 30 is flanged, rearwardly slanting paint roller-ramp 16. The ramp 16 has a lower end 32 faired into the bottom 18 of the caddy, to afford a continuous, non-pocketed run for rollers from the extreme depth of the reservoir to the top of the ramp. The top 34 of the ramp is abruptly canted forward, forming a slope discontinuous with the slope of the ramp to resist further travel of a roller R, to squeeze out drippings, and to warn the user-whenzthe limit of roller travel is reached, preventing paint splashing on over-run. A notch 36 in the center ofthe top 34 of the ramp provides for roller handle engagement to facilitate temporary roller storage.

Upstanding flanges 38 and 40 on either side of the ramp guard against splashing and side-slips of the rol- :lers.

The roller surface 42 of the ramp is preferably ribbed as shown at 44 to assist in preventing rollers from sliding along the ramp instead of rolling.

The storage bin 30 has walls 20, 22' which are lower than the paint reservoir section for two reasons. The higher walls forward prevent splashing and permit carrying efficiently large quantities of paint (at least two quarts can be handily carried in a preferred size). The lower binwalls, of which the rear wall 26 is lowest, give good access under the rear overhang of the ramp, while stiffening and steadying the container under .the stresses of use. The sidewalls of the bin slope down to the rear wall, improving access from the sides. In particular it should be noted that the rearward extension of the bin 30 is substantially the same as the rearward overhang of the ramp 16, preventing the device from being tipped over backward under even very heavy rearward roller pressure at the top of the ramp. In the bin 30 which is sealed off from the paint reservoir 20 .by the ramp 16, a variety of painters tools and accesso ries such as sandpaper S, scrapers and putty knives K, spare paint brushes B and wiping clothes C can be kept. As shown in FIG. 2, at one end of the bin 30 a putty tray 46 integral with the top of the bin walls provides ready access to a quantity of putty P or other sealing compound. A unique brush-clip 48 in the forward end of the container provides brush support.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the brush-clip 48 in best detail. The clip 48 comprises a laterally extended member 50 having a jaw 52, 54 at each end turning forward toward the front wall 24 as shown.

One or two brushes B as shown in phantom lines 'in FIG. 3 can be held with bristles in the paint for wet" storage, as when painting is interrupted for a lunch break, or one brush B, FIG. 4 can be held either during painting or dry" in horizontal storage, supported by the clip jaws and the clip-spacing step 58.

The preferably striplike clip and bracket structure resiliently twists and holds the load, compensating for single or double brush storage, and pressing with the spaced jaws, holds a horizontally stowed brush especially securely even though one end of the brush may be weighed down with a load of paint, ready for application.

The previously mentioned forward angling of the front wall 24 of the container prevents the brushes and particularly the upwardly extended handles of the brushes from interfering with access to the paint reservoir. Even when the paint caddy is hung or carried by the bails 12, 14 (H65. 2, 5 and 6) rearward, the angle of the front bail 12 and the forward angle of brushes B held in the clip 48 provide good access to the paint reservoir 28. Likewise, the forward angle of the rear bail 14 and the rearward angle of the roller-ramp 16 provide good roller access to the ramp, even though the entire Painter's Caddy is compactly compressed in length.

FIGS. 2, 5 and 6 best show the construction of the unique bails of the invention. Each bail l2, 14 comprises a transverse handle 60, 62, respectively, connected with other structure of the container by a pivoted radial arm 64, 66, 68, 70, at each end of each bail. Eyelet-type pivotal connectors 72, attached to the container are preferred, as shown, and preferably are attached to the sidewalls of the reservoir and flanges of the ramp. These pivots hold the pivoted ends of the bails cleanly outside the paint handling areas of the device.

Each end of each transverse handle has an outward loop 74, 76, 78, 80 connecting it with the respectively adjacent radial arm 64, 66, 68, 70.

The spacing between the radial arms on one bail (12 shown) is greater than that between the corresponding members of the other, so that one bail (14 shown) can slip inside the other and the transverse handles 60, 62 interlock by friction at the loops 74, 76, 78, 80. This structure braces and stabilizes the handles and the container, preventing slippage when carried and when hung.

' When the handles are held separately, as in FIG. 3, transporting the device without swinging is easy.

FIG. 5 shows the container hung on a ladder rung L'by "S" hooks 82, 84, supplied for the purpose. Even when hung outboard the ladder by one set of the hooks as shown below in FIG. 5, the device is stable. When set on a ladder, as shown in FIG. 6, the caddy provides good access for both brushes and rollers, from any direction.

It can thus be seen that this unitary paint-and-tool container has all features needed for a complete painting job, the tools being kept ready to hand for use and during storage, both for the professional and the home user. Also, cleaning access is excellent, and useful life is indefinite because ofthe self-bracing. durable design.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to'be understood that within wall and wherein the bracket has a step proximate the the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specif cally described.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by US. Letters Patent is:

l. A painters implement comprising: an open-top substantially rectangular container, a diagonallyupward disposed roller-ramp dividing the container into a fluid-tight paint reservoir forward of the ramp and a storage bin under the overhang of the roller-ramp behind, the storage bin extending rearwardly a distance at least substantially equal to the rearward extent of the roller-ramp, thereby preventing rearward overturn of the implement under roller-pressure on said rollerramp, the top of the roller-ramp being more forwardly inclined than the roller-ramp, forming a roller-stop abruptly discontinuous in angle with the adjacent portion of the roller-ramp, for thereby preventing rollers which may be in use with said implement from upwardly over-running the top of the roller-ramp, the sides of the roller-ramp having flanges which join the sides of the roller stop, the container having a forward slanting front wall with a brush-clamp mounted in spaced relation thereto, the brush clamp comprising a transverse member with the ends forming laterally cantilevered jaws, and a bracket fixing the center of the transverse member to the container, the bracket being narrow relative to the transverse member, thereby providing space for vertical brush-clamping at each jaw.

2. A painters implement as recited in claim 1, wherein the end of each jaw curves toward the front front wall below the transverse member forming a supporting surface for horizontal storage of a brush in the jaws.

3. A painters implement comprising: an open-top substantially rectangular container, a diagonallyupward disposed roller-ramp dividing the container into a fluid-tight paint reservoir forward of the ramp and a storage bin under the overhang of the roller-ramp.

behind, the storage bin extending rearwardly a distance at least substantially equal to the rearward extent of the roller-ramp, thereby preventing rearward overturn of the implement under roller-pressure on said rollerramp, the-top of the roller-ramp being more forwardly inclined than the roller-ramp, forming a roller-stop abruptly discontinuous in angle with the adjacent portion of the roller-ramp, for thereby preventing rollers which may be in use with said implement from upwardly overrunning the top of the roller-ramp, the sides of the roller-ramp having flanges which join the sides of the roller stop, the container having a forward slanting front wall, a rear wall lower than the front wall, and sidewalls, the sidewalls having a portion rearward of the roller-ramp which slants downward to the rear wall. k a: 

1. A painter''s implement comprising: an open-top substantially rectangular container, a diagonally-upward disposed roller-ramp dividing the container into a fluid-tight paint reservoir forward of the ramp and a storage bin under the overhang of the rollerramp behind, the storage bin extending rearwardly a distance at least substantially equal to the rearward extent of the rollerramp, thereby preventing rearward overturn of the implement under roller-pressure on said roller-ramp, the top of the roller-ramp being more forwardly inclined than the roller-ramp, forming a roller-stop abruptly discontinuous in angle with the adjacent portion of the roller-ramp, for thereby preventing rollers which may be in use with said implement from upwardly over-running the top of the roller-ramp, the sides of the roller-ramp having flanges which join the sides of the roller stop, the container having a forward slanting front wall with a brush-clamp mounted in spaced relation thereto, the brush clamp comprising a transverse member with the ends forming laterally cantilevered jaws, and a bracket fixing the center of the transverse member to The container, the bracket being narrow relative to the transverse member, thereby providing space for vertical brushclamping at each jaw.
 2. A painter''s implement as recited in claim 1, wherein the end of each jaw curves toward the front wall and wherein the bracket has a step proximate the front wall below the transverse member forming a supporting surface for horizontal storage of a brush in the jaws.
 3. A painter''s implement comprising: an open-top substantially rectangular container, a diagonally-upward disposed roller-ramp dividing the container into a fluid-tight paint reservoir forward of the ramp and a storage bin under the overhang of the roller-ramp behind, the storage bin extending rearwardly a distance at least substantially equal to the rearward extent of the roller-ramp, thereby preventing rearward overturn of the implement under roller-pressure on said roller-ramp, the top of the roller-ramp being more forwardly inclined than the roller-ramp, forming a roller-stop abruptly discontinuous in angle with the adjacent portion of the roller-ramp, for thereby preventing rollers which may be in use with said implement from upwardly overrunning the top of the roller-ramp, the sides of the roller-ramp having flanges which join the sides of the roller stop, the container having a forward slanting front wall, a rear wall lower than the front wall, and sidewalls, the sidewalls having a portion rearward of the roller-ramp which slants downward to the rear wall. 